Electrolytic cell structure.



Patented .Tu-1y 3, 1917.

l'nvenorz Jemgjf//a ier.

H. B. SLATEH.

,ELECTROLYTIC CELL STRUCTURE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.2T,1914.

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HENRY B. SLATER, OF RIVERSIDE, CALIFORNIA.

ELECTROLYTIC CELL STRUCTURE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 3, 1917.

Application filed March 21 l 1914. Serial No. 826,210.

To au lwhom it may concern.'

Be it known that I, HENRY B. SLA'rnR, a.

citizen of the United States, residing at iverside, in the county of Riverside and State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Electrolytic Cell Structures, of which the following is a specication.

This invention relates to improvements in electrolytic cell structures and particularly to the arrangement and construction of the anodes and diaphragms employed therein.

It is an object of the invention to provide a cell adapted for treating value carrying solutions and particularly solutions containing metal values extracted from ores, for the removal of a part of the. metallic constituents, being at the same time. so acted upon as.to convert them into a state of higher valency and more active condition, so as to be valuable for further treating the same ore, in .fthe extraction of any remaining metallic values thereof, or for treating other ore of the same kind as that xoriginally l treated.

It is also an object of the invention to construct a vat or cell in which one or more sectional. anodes may be employed, for obtaining any desired area of 4anode surface, the structure bein such that sections of the anode may be adn ed or removed to secure such desired area.

lt is a. further object of the invention to provide a combined anode and diaphragm for an electrolytic cell, the diaphragm being readily removable for cleansing and replacement.

lt is a still further object of the invention to providea hollow anolde for anelectrolytic cell and aremovable casing or sleeve forming a diaphragm vfor preventing the commingling of certain constituents of the materials treated in the cell.

lt is a further object of the invention to provide an electrolytic cell with an anode constructed so that fluids from Vthe cell may flow out through the said anodes, a diaphragm of porous material being arranged to surround the anode 'whereby it Will be supported thereon Without other fastenings.

With these and other objects in View, the invention comprises certain novel constructions, combinations and arrangements of parts as will be hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this specification:

Figure 1 is a top plan View of an electrolytic cell structure constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the said cell, apart of its walls being broken away and shown in section to better reveal the interior structure.

Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical sectional view through the said cell taken upon line 3 3 of Fig. l.

Fig. Il is a detail fragmentary sectional' view showin a portion of the cell upon an enlarged sca e and some of the sections of one of the anodes. Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail View, partially 1n side elevation and partially in section of one of the members of the anode, the diaphragm inclosing the same being also par tially shown.

Fig. 6 is a detail fragmentary View of a portion of `the cell showing a different form of outlet connections from the anode branches of the cell, from that shown in Fig. l.

While the cell structure forming the subject matter of the present invention is adapted for the treatment and electrolysis of various substances and solutions, it is particularly Well adapted for the treatment of solutions which have been employed for extracting copper and other metallic values from ores, such for. instance as that described in my previous Patent No. 1,066,855 granted July 8, 1913. The cell of the present -invention is especially useful in' precipitating copper from the mixed solution Aof sodium chlorid; ferrous chlorid and cuprous chlorid mentioned in said patent. ,The direct electrolysis ofsuch a solution for the extraction of copper', Without the intervention of a baffle or diaphragm, is economically impractical because of the formation and diffusion of cupric and ferrie compounds throughout the solution, these compunds being active solvents of copper, dissolving the copper deposited at the .cathode of anl ordinary cell, about as' fast as it'is formed, and eventually eating off the cathode at the surface of the solution so as stances and the details and features of the said structure will now be more specifically y described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing, a preferred form of the cell structure and of the anodes and'diaphragms employed therein have been illustrated.

. In said structure indicates a vat, re-

ceptacle or cell within which the materials to be treated by electrolysis are placed. The said cell may be of concrete, wood, iron or any suitable material which should be lined with an insulating and acid-proof paint or varnish. Extending across the cell at suitable intervals are cathodes 6, usually of `copper and having projecting end portions 7 and 8 at their upper corners for supporting them upon the walls of cell 5. The projections 8 extend suliciently far beyond the walls of the cell to .facilitate their connection with a busbar 9 by which they may all be connected withan electric conductor an a source of electric energy. y

The anodes and their structures form important features of the present invention and the said anodes are so made that thc solutions introduced into the cell for treatment may flow out therefrom through the said anodes. The anodes are preferably connected with an outflow pipe 10 which is provided with T-connections 11 at the intervals where the anodes are to branch therefrom. Other T-connections as l2 are connected by suitable nipples with the T-con'nections 11 and with each other so as to' form an outlet conduit extending into the receptacle and transversely .across the floor thereof. lRising from each T-connc: tion 12 is a hollow anode 13 whose lower end is fitted in the opening of such Taconnection so that the anode is carried 0r supported by said conduit, constituted by saio T-connections, and communicates therewith. The openings of the T-connections 12 are arranged in line so that the series of hollow electrodes 13 are mounted on said outlet conduit in a` row forming in effect a single electrode, subdivided into` a plurality of vertical members, whichl are connected at their upper ends as hereinafter described to a single electric conductor for leading the current thereto. The anode may be formed of'carbon or graphiteor other desired substances; which will be insoluble in the solutions treated. carbon anode can be read- .ily formed in the hollow tubular shape shown in Fig. 5 and its lower end is provided with a screw threaded portion 111, by

which it may be directly screwed into one of the T-connections 12. The walls .of the distance from the bus-bar 17 by the interposition of a block 19 so that Vwhen the clip and'j",` block are removed, Vthe diaphragm which incloses the anode may be slipped upwardly therefrom past the bus-bar. The branch bus-bars 17 are connected in any desired manner with a longitudinal connecting bus-bar 20 and by this means with the source of electrical energy.

An important feature of the invention also is the diaphragm used for preventing the diffusion of the cupric and ferrie compounds above referred to.' This diaphragm 21 is preferably made of brous material, .as

for instance, asbestos, cocoanut fiber, cotton, or yucca fiber, the latter of these being preferred as it `is quite cheap and plentiful. The said diaphragm is generally madecylindrical and open at the ends, and so as to lit quite snugly the outer contour of the anode vmember 13. This diaphragm sleeve being more or less flexible or yielding, by

vreason of its fibrous composition, is able to adapt or conform itself tothe anode member and to fit snugly, but removably, there- The diaphragm may thus be easily slipped into position upon any of the anode members 13 and can be as readily removed therefrom for cleansing, repair or replacement. It will be observed that the diaphragm is thus also thoroughly supported 'by the hollow anode without the need of any securing means. It will bev readily understood that any number of branches of anodes may be employed in the cell andthat any number of anode members 13 may be used upon each branch and in this way the desired varea of anode surface within the cell can be secured.

l The materials to be treated are introduced into the cell usually through a supply pipe 21 having a series of -branch pipes 22 leading therefrom to opposite sides of the cathodes. The incoming solution, carrying copper, for instance,'will thus be discharged close to the faces ofthe cathodesand half' of the copper will be deposited thereon. The

18. The end of the plug is spaced a suitable ,1

other half of the copper is raised to the higher valency under the electrolytic, treatnient,as indicated by the formula CuZGlZ: @1H-(111012. At the same time the iron present is oxidized formingferrie chlorid. This oxidation takes place at the anode and by providing for a constant fiow oi' the solution toward the anodes, at a rate greater than the rate of diffusion, I am enabled to remove these products of oxidation, and prevent their spreading through the cathode compartment.

In the use ot-the cell the liquids flow from the p ipe 21, which is controlled by valve 23 through the branch pipes 22 into the cell. Thence the liquids pass'through the diaphragms Q4 and the perforations l5 to the interior ot the anode members 13. The liquids then pass into the branch T-connections and the pipe 1G from whence they are delivered from the cell through a valve con trolled pipe It will be'understood from the above description that the electric action upon the substances treated is secured by connecting the anodes and cathodes with a suitable source of electricity. It will be observed also that the direction of the electric current is opposite to the direction of the liuid flow, and the copper deposited will be'carried to the cathodes while the oxidizing of the other substances will take place at the anode and largely in the perforations l5 within the diaphragm so that the 'erric and cupric compounds will have no opportunity for diffusion within the cathode compartment. -The plugs 16 not only form removable closing means for the upper ends of the anode members but insure the prevention of the escape of any chlorin that may possibly be freed in the solutions.

The anode members 13 which are next to the end Walls of cell 5 are generally not perforated upon the sides next to the said lwalls as indicated in F ig. 4. .In all the other anode members the perforations are usually providedentirely around t-he same as shown in Fig. 5. By not perforatingthe outer Walls of the anode members carried y by the end branches of the anode structure, the ferrous and cuprous com ounds are prevented from flowing out o the cell until they have been treated by the electric current. v

The means for controlling/the outflow of the liquids from the cell structure may be somewhat varied without departing from the spirit of the invention. Thus as shown in Fig. 6each branch ofthe anode structure may be provided with an individual outflow pipe 26 having a controlling valve 27. Each of the branch pipesI 26 is connected with,a pipe 28 for conducting the liquids to any desired pointfor further use. l

By the. individual connections with. each branch of the anode structure, the liquids can be permitted to How through some of the branches more rapidly than throughA others in accordance with the electrolytic .be easily formed as vabove described and the area ot' anode surface within the cell can be increased above that usually obtained withiprevious constructions of cells in com-4 mon/use. The diaphragms which have heretofore been lnnited in kind and size and .been dilicult to clean, repair or replace, can

be, in accordance with the present invention, made of any desired site and so that they can be easily and quickly removed at any time lor cleaning, repairing or replacing. A much larger area of anode surface can be secured by the cylindrical or tubular branch anode structures lshown and described, than can possiblybe had with a perforated flat or plate anode. The conduits, pipesl and fittings of the anode structure and ot' the outflow system are preferably made oi acid andWater prootniate riale, such for instance, as is largely used in laying under-ground 'electric cables or coiuluctors. Such pipes and fittings are of non-conducting material also and do not carry away any of the current.

Vhat is claimed is:

l. In an electrolytic cell, a receptacle, a conduit extending into the receptacle, and a plurality of tubular electrodes detachab'ly and rigidly mounted on and carried by' said conduit, and having perforate walls adapted for passage of electrolyte therethrough.

2. In an electrolytic cell, a receptacle, a`

conduit extending into the receptacle and carried by said conduit, conducting plugsV closing the upper ends of said tubular electrodes, and an electric conductor connected to said plugs of all the electrodes.

5. In an electrolytic cell, a receptacle, an outlet conduitl extending into said receptacle, a pli-irality'ofhollow perforatewalled electrodes detachably and rigidly mounted on and carried by said conduit and corn-y municating therewith, and a diaphragmv forme'd as a sleeve of porous insulatin material removably litting on each of sai hollow electrodes.

6. In an electrolytic cell, a receptacle, an outlet conduit extending into said receptacle,

a row of hollow perforate walled anodes. mounted on said conduit so as to be carriedthereby and communicating with said conduit, a cathode in said receptacle, and melans' for supplying electrolyte between the said cathode and said anodes. l

7. In an electrolytic cell, a receptacle, 'a

conduit extending thereintoand having a 15V series of T-connections, and a series of hollow perforate walled electrodes fitting in the respective Tconnectionsl so as to be carried by said conduit and to communicate therewith.l Y

l8. In an electrolytic cell, a receptacle, a conduit extending thereinto, Va series of hol" low perforate walled electrodes mounted on said4 conduit soas to be carried thereby and i said electrodes.

.to communicate therewith, and an electric conductor connected to the upper ends of 9. Inan electrlytic cell, an electrode support formed as a pipe, a plurality of tubular perfortedelectrodes mounted on said pipe and :communicating therewith, and a diaphrag'm formed as a sleeve' of porousmate! 'rial surrounding each of said tubular perforatedelectrodes.

10. In an electrolytic cell, a pipe havin a portion 'extending into the cell, a series o parallel tubular pervious electrode'members mounted on said pipe portion and communieating therewith, and porous diaphragm sleeves surrounding the respective electrode members.

11. An anode structure for electrolytic cells comprising an outflow pipe havingI and means for connecting the outlet opening with an outlet pipe for conducting liquids from the interior of said anode.

'In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set l my hand, in presence of two witnesses.

HENRY B. SLATER.

Witnesses: j

CAssnLL SEVERANCE, LILLIE VoLLMER. 

